Saddle advice required

B

BethH

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 January 2006
Messages
1,132
Location
Kent
Visit site
Hi Guys, well typically yet again I think I may need a new saddle and my horse is impossible to fit. He had a kissing spines op 9 months ago and I am pleased to report he is coming along really well and back in regular ridden work, my only problem is that now he can use his back legs properly he has started getting loads of muscle and his whole shape especially shoulder and bum is changing dramatically all the time - literally every month!

My current saddle which is lovely and comfy is starting to get to narrow even though it is already wide and I am getting lots of conflicting info from saddlers.

Ryan is a 15.3hh 3/4 connemara with 1/4 TB so he is stocky and quite round on the shoulders - apparently his shoulder blade is fairly low according to the latest saddler! Keiffers which every told me would look great just look odd on him and I have heard that there is a good Albion straight cut GP which might work for him - Has anyone got any experience of these? I am desperate that anything new doesn't hurt him after everything he has been through and I am also worried that I can pay up for a new saddle that won't fit him in 6 months time so need some that is very adjustable??? apparently the adjustable keiffer with a key is already nearly to narrow for him on it's widest setting.

Anyfeedback on the latest Albions or a good adjustable wide saddle would be great please
 
*Whispers*

Try these

Not the cheapest but you'll have a saddle that will always fit your horse and any other horses you put it on so you never need to buy another
grin.gif
I've just bought one and it's fantastic
laugh.gif
 
wow!! they look fantastic, SK....

how well have you adjusted to using it?
just looks slightly different positionwide, than a conventional....not a critism either
 
It is so much easier! I only have the dressage saddle but it put's my leg in a much better position. It's a bit strange at first but I use mine twice a day so I'm used to it and love it. I use it on two (soon to be 3) differnt horses and the two I have at the moment love it, plus it is SO comfy.
If your interested I'd email one of the rep's closest to you and give it a go
laugh.gif
 
Not a lover of treeless myself as some horses just dont seem to like them. That being said, havent tried Heather's saddle and as a rider, she's truely inspirational to me.

I have a wow on a very awkwardly shaped horse. He doesnt have a bad back, but he's very short coupled, very high withered and has massive movement through his shoulder that made saddle fitting a nightmare.

http://www.flair.uk.com/wow/wow%20concept.htm

They are absolutly fantastic and can be altered to fit the horse as he changes shape. Dont confuse this with the saddles that allow the front width to be changed. These DONT accomodate changes across the width of the back (the actual gullet) area and so arent as customizable as they claim. The wow has the best pressure distribution of any saddle on the market aside from some of the superior western saddles. They also have an incredible range in terms of their saddle widths (also the widest on the market i believe)

http://www.flair.uk.com/wow/wow%20fitting.htm

Personally, while I love the quality of the Albions in terms of their leather and indeed the way they can help a rider's position; i think the fit to the horse isn't so great and I know so many people who have enormous issues with them.

Good luck in your search
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Not a lover of treeless myself as some horses just dont seem to like them. That being said, havent tried Heather's saddle and as a rider, she's truely inspirational to me.



[/ QUOTE ]

Ah, but Heathers saddles are half treed, the tree is in the back of the saddle which supports the rider. It sits like a normal saddle, looks sort of like a normal saddle, just bigger and it moulds to any horse.
 
Be very wary of treeless saddles for a kissing spines horse, they do not offer correct support in the correct area. It is vital that there is even pressure along the muscles and you may need spot stitching in specific areas to ensure no pressure and that the rider is supported across the maximum area - a treeless saddle will in most instances concentrate the riders weight in the minimal area - ie just the area where the backside actually touches.

I would look at a saddle with serge panels and also have a look at a half panel saddle as that would allow you to have one as forward cut as you want while allowing total movement through the shoulder

PM me if you want more info -
 
See, that would be exactly my thoughts re the tree'd or even part tree'd saddles on this horse. But im neither a saddler nor a vet I suppose :/

I'd contact first thought (wow people) and see what they say. They're very good at difficult cases (either shape or back issues).
 
I have been put off treeless as Ryans physio has had a lot of work on horses that have had these fitted as they apparently put pressure in the wrong place and get very sore backs so think I wouldn't want to risk it, although initially thought would be great idea for him so thank you for suggestion.

I thought a straight cut gp would be good as frees up his shoulder, will have a look at wow website as well, will chat with saddler about Serge panels etc thank you all for your replies
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top